Twisha Sharma case: CBI probe ordered, AIIMS Delhi to redo post-mortem
Synopsis
Ten days after Twisha Sharma's death in Bhopal, her husband has surrendered to police, the Madhya Pradesh government has ordered a CBI probe, and the High Court has directed AIIMS Delhi to conduct a fresh autopsy — all after the family alleged that the first post-mortem was compromised by the accused's influence. The case has drawn national attention, with the family calling out a retired judge among the in-laws.
Key Takeaways
The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered a second post-mortem by AIIMS Delhi in the alleged dowry death of Twisha Sharma .
The Madhya Pradesh government announced a CBI inquiry into the case.
Twisha's husband, Samarth Singh , was taken into custody by Jabalpur police on 22 May after surrendering at a local court; he had been absconding for 10 days .
The family alleged procedural lapses in the first autopsy at AIIMS Bhopal and claimed the accused's house has not been sealed.
Twisha's mother-in-law, Giribala Singh , is a retired judge; the family alleged she used her connections to shield the accused — a charge not independently verified.
Twisha was declared dead at AIIMS Bhopal late on the night of 12 May .
The family of alleged dowry death victim Twisha Sharma on Friday, 22 May expressed gratitude to the Madhya Pradesh government and the Madhya Pradesh High Court after the state announced a CBI inquiry into the case and the court ordered a second post-mortem to be conducted by AIIMS Delhi. The High Court passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the family, which had challenged a lower court's refusal to allow a fresh autopsy.
Why the Family Challenged the First Post-Mortem
The family argued that several inconsistencies and procedural lapses in the first autopsy — conducted at AIIMS Bhopal — raised serious doubts about the fairness of the investigation. One of Twisha's cousins, Swati Sharma, pointed to an apparent discrepancy: 'How can the doctors mention a wrong measurement of Twisha's height in the post-mortem report?' The family alleged that the doctors at AIIMS Bhopal worked under the influence of the in-laws, a charge that has not been independently verified.
What the Family Said
Twisha's cousin Ashish Sharma said the family had been 'continuously struggling and appealing for this' for the past ten days and urged authorities to act without delay. 'Now the action that the administration has to take should be carried out immediately, without any delay. After that, we will proceed with the last rites,' he said.
Twisha's uncle Lokesh Sharma thanked Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for ordering the CBI probe, saying, 'Without a CBI investigation, justice for the victim would not have been possible.' He alleged that Twisha's mother-in-law, Giribala Singh — described as a retired judge — had used her connections to shield the accused, citing call detail records that he claimed showed she contacted influential individuals shortly after the incident.
Allegations of Influence and Evidence Tampering
Lokesh Sharma alleged that the house where the alleged crime occurred remains in the possession of Twisha's in-laws and has not been sealed. 'They are living their lives normally, as if nothing has happened. They might have destroyed all evidence by now,' he said. Another cousin, Meenakshi Sharma, alleged that those connected to the accused made 'around 40 calls within just 2–3 hours of the incident,' underscoring what the family described as the reach of their influence. These allegations have not been independently confirmed.
Meenakshi Sharma also urged the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to intervene, noting that the family hails from Uttar Pradesh.
Husband Taken into Custody
In a significant development, Jabalpur police took Twisha's husband, Samarth Singh, into custody on Friday after he arrived at a Jabalpur court to surrender. Singh had reportedly been absconding for ten days following Twisha's death at AIIMS Bhopal late on the night of 12 May.
What Happens Next
With the CBI inquiry now announced and a second post-mortem by AIIMS Delhi ordered, the case enters a new phase of scrutiny. The family has said it will proceed with Twisha's last rites only after the process is completed. The outcome of the AIIMS Delhi autopsy and the CBI's initial findings are expected to shape the next steps in the legal proceedings.
Point of View
And by the time courts intervene, evidence may be compromised. The family's allegation that a retired judge used institutional connections to influence the investigation — if borne out by the CBI — would represent a serious indictment of how professional status can distort the criminal justice process. The ten-day delay in sealing the crime scene and the husband's prolonged absconding raise questions about local police urgency. Ordering a CBI probe and a second post-mortem are necessary steps, but they are reactive — the structural gap is in first-response protocols when the accused have social capital.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Twisha Sharma case?
Twisha Sharma was declared dead at AIIMS Bhopal late on the night of 12 May in what her family has alleged is a dowry death. The Madhya Pradesh government subsequently announced a CBI inquiry, and the High Court ordered a second post-mortem by AIIMS Delhi after the family challenged procedural lapses in the first autopsy.
Why was a second post-mortem ordered in the Twisha Sharma case?
The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered a second post-mortem by AIIMS Delhi after Twisha's family filed a petition challenging a lower court's refusal to allow a fresh autopsy. The family cited inconsistencies in the first post-mortem — including an allegedly incorrect measurement of Twisha's height — and claimed the doctors worked under the influence of the in-laws.
Has Twisha Sharma's husband been arrested?
Yes. Samarth Singh, Twisha's husband, was taken into custody by Jabalpur police on 22 May after he arrived at a Jabalpur court to surrender. He had reportedly been absconding for ten days following Twisha's death on 12 May.
Who is Giribala Singh and why is she significant in this case?
Giribala Singh is Twisha Sharma's mother-in-law and a retired judge. The family has alleged that she used her professional connections and status to shield the accused, citing her call detail records as evidence of attempts to influence the investigation. These allegations have not been independently verified.
What has the Twisha Sharma family demanded from the UP government?
Twisha's cousin Meenakshi Sharma urged the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to intervene in the case, noting that the family is from Uttar Pradesh. The family has also called for the crime scene — currently allegedly still in the possession of the in-laws — to be sealed.
